Say cheese! The Melt transforms childhood classic to tasteful delight

As a child, I would always look forward to the one meal guaranteed to appear on the kid’s menu of any American restaurant: the classic grilled cheese sandwich. The simple combination of bread and cheese was mouth-watering and destined to satisfy my taste buds.

So when I discovered that a new restaurant, The Melt, had opened up in San Jose and specialized in grilled cheese, I was ecstatic. But I was also puzzled at how such a simple entree could occupy an entire menu.

Situated in the El Paseo De Saratoga near AMC 14 theaters, The Melt exudes bright orange and shiny white. With its simplistic design and bold font, the restaurant attracts significant traffic. A steady stream of students, business people and shoppers line up to order their melts.

The first thing I saw on my way to the cash register were the large words printed on the side wall, advertising fresh bread and natural ingredients. Dainty booths with white, but dirty tables fill the space, creating a fast casual atmosphere suitable for a quick bite to eat at lunch or breakfast.

Behind the cash register are fancy grills and a myriad of sandwich ingredients, waiting to be assembled into delicious meals. According to the company’s website, all breads are baked fresh from artisan bakeries and soups and sandwich ingredients are crafted with fresh produce.

The menu boasts a variety of mouth-watering melts, including The Italian (fontina and provolone on garlic bread), The ‘Shroom (aged swiss, portabello, grilled onions on sourdough) and The Mac Daddy (aged cheddar, macaroni on artisan white). Surprised by the number of vegetarian options, I ended up opting for The Mission (pepper jack with jalapeno on sourdough).

Within minutes of ordering, an appetizing sandwich arrived in a small plastic basket, ready to be devoured. The sourdough bread was seasoned and grilled to a crisp and the melted pepper jack cheese oozed out, forming a tasteful arrangement complemented by the spicy jalapenos. Priced at a reasonable $4.95, the meal was certainly a good value, especially considering that toppings of tomatoes, jalapenos and grilled onions were free.

In addition to sandwiches, the restaurant serves seasonal soups and salads as well as soft serve ice cream for dessert. To supplement the meal, cookies, fruits and sodas are also available for sale.

Aside from its unique menu, the Melt uses location-based mobile technology that allows customers to remotely order melts, soups or combos on the go and receive a Quick Response (QR) code that can be scanned at any Melt location. As a result, the tech-savvy can skip the line and pick up their food hot and fresh anytime.

My excursion to The Melt raised my standards of grilled cheese, and I would certainly recommend it for an after-school snack or off-campus lunch. With great food, reasonable prices and convenient service, The Melt is sure to be a recurring delight for all lovers of cheese and bread alike.